Northwest Ordinance • The Northwest Ordinance was a 1787 law that set up a government for the Northwest Territory. • It guaranteed basic rights to settlers and outlawed slavery in the northwest territory.

Depression • A Depression is a period when business activity slows, prices and wages fall and unemployment rises. • After the Revolution, the United States was in a depression.

Shay's Rebellion • Shay’s Rebellion was a 1786 rebellion led by a farmer named Daniel Shay who lost his farm in Massachusetts.

Constitutional Convention • The Constitutional Convention was a meeting of state representatives on May 25, 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation. • The meeting took place at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Instead of revising the Articles of Confederation, the delegates wrote a new constitution. Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Virginia Plan • The Virginia Plan at the Constitutional Convention was a plan that called for a strong national government with three branches of government and a two chamber legislature.

Legislative Branch • The legislative branch is the branch of government that makes laws. • The legislative branch consists of two houses. When a legislative branch consists or two houses, it is called a bicameral legislature. • The two houses are the Senate and the House of Representatives. • Together they are called Congress. The Capital Building where Congress meets.

Executive Branch • The executive branch is the branch of government that carries the laws out, or enforces the laws. • The Executive branch is the president, vice president and numerous departments of the executive branch. The White House

Judicial Branch • The judicial branch is the branch of government that decides if laws are carried out fairly. • They judicial branch interprets (explains the laws). • The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and lower courts. The Supreme Court

New Jersey Plan • The New Jersey Plan was a plan at the Constitutional Convention that called for three branches of government with a one house legislative branch. • This plan favored small states.

Compromise • A compromise is a settlement in which each side gives up some of its demands in order to reach an agreement.

Great Compromise • The Great Compromise was a plan at the Constitutional Convention that settled the differences between large and small states. + = Plan Plan Great Compromise

Three-Fifths Compromise • The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement at the Constitutional Convention that three fifths of slaves in any state be counted in its population towards a states representation in the House of Representatives.

Republic • A republic is a system of government in which citizens choose representatives to govern them.

Separation of Powers • Separation of powers is a principle by which powers of government are divided among separate branches.

Federalists • The Federalists were people who supported the new constitution created at the Constitutional Convention. • They favored a strong central government.

Antifederalists • Antifederalists were people against the new constitution created at the Constitutional Convention. • They liked stronger state governments and a weak central government.

The Federalists Papers • The Federalist papers were a series of essays by Federalists James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay in support of ratifying the Constitution. James Madison

Amend • Amend means to change. • To amend the Constitution, an amendment must be added.

Bill of Rights • The Bill of Rights are the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution. • They protect our basic liberties.

Popular Sovereignty • Popular Sovereignty is a principle of the United States Constitution that states that the people have the right to create, alter or abolish their government. • In other words, the people have the power in government.

Limited Government • Limited government is a principle of the United States Constitution that states that government has only the powers the Constitution gives it.

Checks and Balances • Checks and balances is a principal of the United States Constitution that safeguards against abuse of power by giving each branch of government the power to check the other branches. &

Federalism • Federalism is the principle in the United States Constitution that establishes the division of power between the federal government and the states.

House of Representatives • The House of Representatives is the larger of the two bodies that make up the legislative branch of the United States government. • Representation is based on population.

Senate • The Senate is the smaller of the two bodies that make up the legislative branch of the United States government. • Each state has only two senators.

Bill • A bill is a proposed law. • All bills start in Congress, because they are the branch of government that makes laws.

Electoral College Group of electors from every state who meet every four years to vote for the President of the United States.

Veto • To reject, as when the President rejects a law passed by Congress. Vetoed

Override • To overrule, as when congress overrules a presidential veto. To override a presidential veto, Congress needs to thirds of the members in both the House of Representatives and Senate to vote yes to overriding veto.

Impeach • To bring charges of serious wrongdoing against a public official.

First Amendment • Amendment to the United States Constitution that safeguards basic individual liberties including freedom of religion, speech, and the press.

Second Amendment • Amendment to the United States Constitution related to the right to bear arms.